Christy Buchanan

I am interested in factors that promote positive socio‑emotional development, especially during adolescence. Specifically, my research is aimed at understanding how characteristics of the family (e.g., family structure, family relationships, parenting styles and strategies, ethnicity) and of the individual (e.g., beliefs about development, biological change) influence adjustment during this time of life. Current research topics, and example publications and presentations for each topic, include:

Beliefs about Adolescents

I am investigating parents’ and adolescents’ beliefs about the adolescent period. What are parents’ and children’s expectations for and stereotypes about adolescence, and how do these influence parenting and parent-child relationships over the transition from childhood to adolescence? Results of my research suggest that negative stereotypes about adolescents can lead to expectations for specific children that are more negative than they should be based on the child’s history of behavior. Furthermore, results of a longitudinal study indicate that negative expectations for a young adolescent child (on the part of mothers and of the children themselves) predict more negative perceived parent-child relationships and more risk-taking and difficult behavior over time.

Buchanan, C. M., & Hughes, J. L. (2009). Construction of Social Reality During Early Adolescence: Can Expecting Storm and Stress Increase Storm and Stress? Journal of Research on Adolescence, 19, 261-285.

Buchanan, C. M. & Triplett, M. F. (2006). Stereotypic Beliefs about Adolescents: Parents’ and Children’s Thinking as Related to Behavior in Early to Middle Adolescence. Paper presented in P. Davis-Kean (Chair), Contexts, Individuals and Development: A tribute to Jacque Eccles. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, New Orleans, LA.

I and several of my students and collaborators have been interested in general questions about predictors and consequences of parenting during adolescence, mechanisms of consequences, and variation in both as a function of family context. Among other things, we have examined sources of information that parents use to monitor adolescents and the impact of parenting practices such as psychological control and criticism.

Family Processes and Adolescent Adjustment in Different Cultural and Ethnic Contexts

I have recently been involved in research that is specifically focused on understanding family processes and youth development in a variety of cultural and ethnic contexts. Recent research examines ethnic differences in emotional experiences and perceptions of parental warmth in adolescents from different ethnic groups. Also, one of my recent students examined possible selves in Latino and European American youth, and another examined adolescents’ health behaviors and attitudes in America and Italy. I have also conducted research evaluating a mentoring program for Hispanic youth. The research we did with these youth and their families has relevance for mentoring programs, but also more generally for the understanding of adolescent development among Hispanic immigrant youth.

Jackson-Newsom, J., Buchanan, C. M., & McDonald, R. (2008). Parenting and perceived maternal warmth in European American and African American adolescents. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 70, 62-75.

Sills, M., Buchanan, C. M., Polanco, S., & Mesquita, B. (March, 2008). The development of European American and Mexican American adolescents’ emotional experiences in parent and peer contexts. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Chicago, IL.

Halfond, R., & Buchanan, C. M. (March, 2007). Values and expectations for hoped-for and feared possible selves among Latino and European American adolescents. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Boston, MA.

Buchanan, C. M., Williams, A. K., Halfond, R., & Snyder, J. C. (March, 2006). The impact of mentoring on developmental assets in Latino youth. Paper presented in C. M. Buchanan (Chair), The impact of mentoring of Latino youth: Academic outcomes and other developmental assets. Symposium presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Francisco, CA.

Williams, A., & Buchanan, C. M. (March, 2006). Parental efficacy and school involvement among Mexican-American parents: Do children’s mentors help? Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Francisco, CA.

Beard, H., & Buchanan, C. M. (March, 2006). Health or appearance concerns: Predictors of adolescents’ engagement in health behaviors across gender and culture. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, San Francisco, CA.

Divorce, Custody, and Marital Conflict

One specific area of my research on the family concerns how divorce, custody arrangements, and interparental conflict affect the relationships between adolescents and parents, and how the patterns of relationships that develop in families where parents divorce affect adolescent adjustment.

Nice, R., & Buchanan, C. M. (March, 2007). Divorce, interparental conflict, and painful feelings among children from married and divorced families. Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Child Development, Boston, MA.

I am interested in understanding the positive developments that take place during adolescence and how these can be enhanced. One way this interest has manifested itself in my research lab is through studies of the development of civic attitudes and goals. We are currently involved in a variety of research projects examining adolescents’ community- versus self-oriented attitudes and goals, and how are these influenced by such things as family attitudes and behaviors, service experiences, or school requirements for service.

Jahromi, P. L., & Buchanan, C. M. (in preparation). The relation between community service and civic attitudes and intentions among adolescents required to do service.

I am interested in the patterns of actual emotional and behavioral change during the adolescent years, and how these are related to physical changes (as well as to family characteristics & processes as described in other sections). How do parents respond to physical changes in their children? Do reactions depend on parental expectations, family relationships, or family context?

Beard, H. A., & Buchanan, C. M. (March, 2004). Is parent-child closeness a moderator of the link between pubertal timing and psychosocial outcomes? Poster presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research on Adolescence, Baltimore, MD.